Fall Recruitment is Winding Down:What’s Next?

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

As we approach the end of our on-campus interview season, we wanted to provide some guidance on next steps and how to proceed with your job search after Fall Recruitment.

1. Wrap up loose ends:
• Have you heard back from the “Resume Collect” employers to whom you submitted materials? If not, now is a good time to follow up to check on the status of your applications.
• Have you followed up with the employers with whom you interviewed to thank them for the interview and reiterate your interest in the position?

2. Take stock of your Fall Recruitment experience. Before beginning the next wave of applications, evaluate the effectiveness of your current strategies:
• Are your written materials getting you the interviews you want? If not, meet with an LCS counselor for some feedback.
• Are your interviews going well? Again, meeting with a counselor at LCS may help you identify ways to present yourself more effectively with your next round of interviews.

Moving forward:
Most employers do not hire through organized recruiting programs. Do not be discouraged if Fall Recruitment did not yield a job for you.

Instead, focus on other employers who have yet to hire. Consider small firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, courts and general counsel offices. Many of these offices do not hire more than a semester in advance. Identifying these opportunities may be challenging, since many of these offices do not publish job listings. By working with LCS staff and conducting targeted research, you can learn to identify these opportunities and develop an effective approach.

Remember: Avoid the trap of focusing more on the employers who did not select you for interviews than the ones who did. Not being selected for an interview is not the same thing as being rejected by the employer. There may be many factors at stake that are outside of your control. It is best to concentrate on what you can control, invest in the employers who show interest in you, and always project positive energy. Remember, you only need one job!